Cicero town president stays on ballot, board rules

Rival in race who accused official of owing town debts says he will appeal

January 16, 2013|By Joseph Ruzich, Special to the Tribune

Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, foreground, shown at an election board hearing Wednesday to decide his eligibility to run for re-election, will remain on the ballot after the board dismissed a challenge by one of his rivals. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune)

Cicero Town President Larry Dominick will be on the ballot to seek re-election next month, a court-appointed election board ruled Wednesday.

Town officials said the board dismissed allegations that Dominick owed debts to the town and was ineligible to be a candidate.

Those allegations had been raised by Juan Ochoa, an opponent of Dominick's in the Feb. 26 election, and town collector candidate David Donahue.

The two candidates alleged that Dominick had maintenance and remodeling work done at his Cicero home without buying work permits from the town. Lawyers also questioned Dominick last week before the election board about whether he ran a business out of his home and owed the town business license fees.

Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said the allegations against Dominick were ridiculous.

"They dug back eight years claiming Dominick owed money," Hanania said. "He (Dominick) never received any notices from the town or anything. If the board decided against him, then every incumbent running for election in this state could get thrown off the ballot."

Ochoa said he plans to appeal the ruling.

"Whether it's through appeal in Circuit Court or on Election Day, this victory will be short-lived for Dominick," Ochoa said in a statement.

In December, a Cook County judge disqualified the town's election board, made up of Dominick and other town officials.

The judge said last month that the board had a "vested interest in pay and benefits, including family members on the Cicero payroll, which may be affected by election results." He replaced the board with three attorneys who do not live in Cicero.

The board also recently voted to keep Ochoa and Donahue on the ballot after Dominick contested their residency.

Former town senior services director Joe Pontarelli will also be on the ballot for president. Ruperto De Loera, an administrator with the town Fire Department, said Wednesday that he recently dropped out of the race because he was not prepared for it. Lizveth Mendez said she will appeal the election board's decision to remove her from the ballot because of alleged problems with her nominating petition.